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"March," Nayak said, referring to a general election due in early 2009. "This is all totally politically motivated."
Like many Christians, human rights groups and government ministers, Nayak suspected hardline Hindu groups of organising these attacks in Orissa state, trying to win political support among Hindus over long-standing tensions with missionaries.
From attacks on Christians to suspected Islamist bombings, communal politics is back on the agenda across India, to challenge an embattled secular-leaning government as its gears up for an election against a Hindu-nationalist opposition in 2009.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to take the political offensive, campaigning here in Orissa state on issues such as missionary conversion, or convincing Hindus in other states of the risks from militant Muslims.
The ruling Congress, under pressure to ban Hindu hardline groups and get tough on Islamist terrorism, is struggling both to avoid alienating Hindu voters while also securing its traditional support among minorities, including Muslims.
The government held a meeting on Monday of the National Integration Council, a panel of public figures, to discuss communal tension, the first time the group has met since 2005. "It is not by accident that these incidents are increasing," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the council. "We need to collectively consider whether short-term narrow political ends are driving some of us to encourage forces of divisiveness."
Attacks in Orissa and bombings by suspected Islamist militants that have killed hundreds have dominated media and political debates in the last month. Muslim leaders accuse the police of indiscriminate arrests and even murders of Muslim youth as they try to show they are catching terrorists.
COMMUNAL BRINK
Dozens have died in Muslim-Hindu riots in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
The headlines often supplanted voter worries over inflation.
The last election in 2004, when Congress came to power, was partly seen as a secular backlash against the incumbent BJP-led government, especially after the Gujarat riots in 2002 when more than 2,000 Muslims were massacred by Hindu mobs.
While some BJP leaders now prefer to campaign on economic issues, others are happier to rail against issues such as religious conversion, which unite many Hindus.
"Where the BJP is challenging for power they are playing the Hindutva card," said Kuldip Nayar, a political analyst, referring to the concept of Hindu revivalism.
Take Orissa, where at least 35 people, mostly Christians, have been killed in religious clashes since late August.
The BJP's support rose by around five percent in September's local elections. Congress fell to third place for the first time. Many saw the campaign against conversion as helping the BJP.
The BJP denies it has been involved in attacks, but many people blame its grassroots organisations. The government is considering banning one such group, Bajrang Dal.
Ashok Sahu, a respected Hindu leader in Orissa, offers a glimpse into the mentality of grassroot Hindu nationalists.
He lamented that Christians were a tight group that counted more than more loosely-knit Hindus. He criticised Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, a Roman Catholic, for using Christians politically.
"Christians may only be three percent of the population, but they account for about five percent in polls. That makes a lot of difference in elections," he said.
But it is not just about attacks on Christians.
Bombings this year, including serial blasts in New Delhi that killed at least 23 people, were blamed on Islamists and put the government's response to terrorism high on the political agenda.
On the one hand, the government has been criticised for being soft on terrorism for failing to stop the attacks. But it has also come under fire for the tough police response.
A key parliamentary supporter of the government, the Samajwadi Party, relies on Muslim votes and criticised the government after the police crackdown.
This kind of division may play into the hands of the BJP.
Seema Desai, London-based analyst for political risk consultants Eurasia Group, called the BJP's hardline campaign on terrorism "soft Hindutva," allowing the party to promote Hindu revivalism without alienating centrist voters.
The argument goes that Indians may back a hardline stance on Muslim militancy, even if they are uneasy with outrightly promoting Hindu religious causes.
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missionaries must not bash hindu gods. hindus do not like violance . it is political hindu party who like violance.
The UPA government will do nothing as things are working out for them. They have where they want us, divided and they can now play vote bank politics and only ask for the minorities' votes. The more sympathies for the minorities will mean that the hindus will start thinking for themselves in a country that they are a majority. Stop this division and really start thinking of India as belonging to all sects of all religions.
AS ALREADY KNOWN AND HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST. THE CONGRESS HAS BARED THEIR UGLY TEETH AND FOAMANTED ALL THESE RIOT JUST FOR VOTE BANK. IT WAS EVIDENT WHEN 20,000 ROWDY ELEMENT WERE RECRUITED AND SENT TO ORISSA, KARNATAKA, RAJASTHAN,HIMACHAL PRADESH TO SEE THAT THE OPPOSITION RULED STATES ARE BROUGHT UNDER PRESIDENT RULE. ALL THE STAMPEDE AND BRIDGE COLLAPSE WERE WELL PLANNED. THE CHRISTIANS WILL BE DOING GREATEST HARM TO THEMSELVES IF THEY THINK THE CONGRESS WILL HELP, THIS WHAT EXACTLY THE CONGRESS PLANNED ALIENATE THE CHRISTIANS FROM THE HINDU COMMUNITY.
Ranjit nayak, the Cgristian leader from Orissa,has aptly remarked that the communal orgy will end with the elections.The facistandNazioriented Hindutva leaders are making a travesty of "santana dhrma" priciples!While it preaches,"vasudeva Kutumb"these people are out to create an exclusive Hindu Rashtra!Bajrang Bali is the "icon" of Brahmacharis! But the activistsnonchalantly disrobe a"nun' and gang rape her and yet call themselves "Bajrang Dal" members! Now, as never before, US and Europe are having reservations against"Saffron Terrorism!"Unlike n the west, the Indian cry of "Islamic terrrism"is being viewed as a red herring chase!Hence, many are of the view that the centre should deal with extremism and terrorism with an even hand!
Since 1990,Sangh Parivar has been harping on polarisation and apeasenent of"majoritarian supremacy", all the time attacking Congress of "minority apeasement" and "vote bank poitics!"The six year rule of BJP led NDA govt.leftmuch to be desired,and,therefore,it was routed in 2004!The fading away of Ataljee from the central stage:bolstering up of the candidature ofenigmatic Advani for the PM's post;the removal of many OBC leaders like Uma Bharathi, KalyanSingh; the intra party contradictions in the sangh parivar and the unbridled communal violence leashed by VHP and its militant wing, Bajrang Dalhave discreidted the claims of BJP!Hence, fir the first time "extremism" has been given preference over "terrorism"in NIC meeting!The much adoed "Islamic Terrorism" has, quite recently come to be viewed by many as a hoax!Further the Human Rights Watch and other bodies in US are worried about the "Saffron Terrorism"of India funded by NRIs in US and Europe.Educated youth detestBajrang Dal
May be Jinnah was right, when he asked for separate Ballot for Hindus and Muslims. The Congress with eye on block voting opposed that, with the result that millions of Indians died in unnecessary partition.
I ask eack and every citizen of india to come together and KICK the UPA out of INDIA.
UPA and its like minded minority votebank seeking idiots are giving open invitations to parties interested in targeting the majority. It is not good for our democracy. The evangelist luring people with money, muslim organization buying out all lands surrounding important temples and such acts will make the normally dormant non-violent hindus to start sympathising with the militant outfits.These stupidities should stop.
Isnt it the same old wine in a new bottle?? Our politicians never change and they are the real culprits behind the clash of the religions. Amb. Mark, US Amb to UN once said," Many a Nation can progress if not for the puny politics of the puny politicians". Our Country is so rich in Natural Resources, MAnpower, Technology, Scineces Etc. We the People of India should fight these politicians and not vote for them. We should excercise our vote rightfully and deligently.
I BEG TO DIFFER . THE MEDIA BY BEING BIAST AND TOTALLY ANTI HINDU IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE MINORITIES SUFFERING. THESE SO CALLED MEDIA THINK THEY ARE DOING THE MINORITIES A FAVOUR, BUT ON THE CONTRARY ITS HAVING AN OPPOSITE EFFECT.
Divide
This clearly shows Reuters had no idea about Gujarat riots. Here it says more than 2000 muslims killed hindu mobs. What a crap. Actual data is 700 muslims and 400 hindus were killed in those riots. Police Firing was the main reason behind most of the casualities. What kind of reporting is this carrried out by Reuters and why is IE printing such false statements.
Instead of spreading equality Congress is taking sides of Cristians and Muslims. So, is the so called pseudo intellectual liberal media. We need a balance of power when Congress governements are selling off Temple lands in the country and donating more lands to Christians and Isamists. We need Sonia out of India, because her being at helm of affairs , has made Christians and Islamists bold. It's not Militant or fundamentalism, it is fighting for rights. If crusades is fundamentaliism, if Isreal and Palestine iconflict is fundamentalism, if Christian Evangelists are fundamentalists, then let's talk, Jounos with poor depth of thought and understanding, with absolutely no view of the world, are writing these third rate articles in CMM-IBN and other news papers.
It is sad that UPA govt. is doing nothing to stop this dirty game.This will be very dangerous for India's unity.Terrorists, whether they are Muslims or Hindus,should be treated as same.If central govt. cannot take strong action against real culprits, it is better to resign and hand over to BJP.